Machine for forming heel seats



April 6, 1954l E. F. SMALL ETAL MACHINE'FOR EORMING HEEL SEATS Filed sept. 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l April 6, 1954 E. F. SMALL ETAL MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1952 April 6, 1954 E. F'. SMALLl ET AL MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 16, 1952 man?? 275W April 6,1954 E. F. SMALL ErAL 2,673,994

MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS -Fled Sept. 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J4 f?? W1 *f 7///////////// Pf 5 l r -/f Z55/653533- UU \\\\\\\\\-4'/ 'U S`.\`\\\\\ '.V///)IA- l, P

j la? AW 5f l f5! if.' (Sl- I l .7 f;- =--1 ww #ff f .y m0 .5; 7 /f ya 25( .J Zweiznf' dwardfamk E. F. SMALL ETAL MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS April 6, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept..l6, 1952 Apnl 6, 1954 Filed Sept. 16, 1952 E. F. SMALL ETAL 2,673,994 MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Inverzarf mwardzfmzz Patented Apr. 6, 1954 MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS Edward F. Small, Newton, and Edward H. Bastable, Cambridge, Mass., assignors to Compo Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass., a

corporation of Delaware Application September 16, 1952, Serial No. 309,772

. Claims.

.j This invention relates to a machine'for forming V-a heel seat of the type having a beveled margin merging with beveled shoulder portions extending inwardly beyond the breast line of the heel.

The desirability of providing a heel seat of the above type is well recognized in the art and numerous attempts have been made with more or less success to provide a machine for producing such a heelseat. However, such attempts have not proved entirely satisfactory in that the machines were either incapable of producing the desired bevel, or werev expensive andy ineiiicient and/or their operation required the use of a relatively expensive press.

The principal objectof the present invention is to provide a compact, eilicientand reliable ma- 4 chine for forming a heel seat of the above type, which machine can be manufactured and maintained at a fraction of the overall cost of prior machina.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings which illustra-te what f.

is now considered the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig.v1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a heel seat forming machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; l y

Flg.v2 is an enlarged top plan view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section substantially on 'the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to'Fig. 3, but showing ithe knife and presser rms in advanced posiion; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4; Fig.' 7 is a'section approximately on the line `1 1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the matrix;

Fig. 9 is a sectional isometric view of the knife carrier and certain associated parts; Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a heel seat formed by the machine herein shown; and

Fig. 11 is an edge view of the sole shown in f Fig.`10.

. The machine herein shown comprises a base I having 'an upstanding column 2, the upper end vof' which supports a. frame-like structure in- Vciudingspaeed forwardly extending webs 4 and 5 (Figs. l, 2 and 7) which adjoin corresponding rearwardly extending webs 'i and l, the column 2 including a removable section 8 or the like permitting access to its interior. The webs 6 and l are integral with a bracket 9 which extends rearwardly, as shown in Fig. l, to provide a support for parts hereinafter described. Between the forwardly and rearwardly extending webs is a vertically extending cylinder lll, the rear portion -of which is provided with an opening l2 (Fig. 1),

and surrounding the webs 4 1 is a shallow housing or casing l5, the top of which is formed with an opening i5 to permit access to certain parts hereinafter described.

Extending across the top of Webs 4 1 is a bridge plate I8 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed with a central bore aligned with the cylinder I0 and disposed against the undersurface of the plate i8 is a matrix (Figs. 4 6 and 8) which comprises a U-shaped member 2l (Fig. 8. conforming in size and shape to the contour of the heel seat to be-formed and surrounding a central recess or cavity 22. The ends of the member 2l adjoin a pivotal member 24 formed with parts which provide upwardly inclined extensions or relief areas 26 and 28 (Figs. 4, 6 and 8), the inclination of which determines the angle of the bevel at the opposite lateral portion of the heel area inwardly of the breast line. Fitting within the central opening of the plate IS is a flanged sleeve 3u (Figs. 1 and 3) which receives a piston rod 32, the lower end of which carries a stripper 34 normally disposed within the confines of cavity 22. The lower face of the stripper 34 is dished, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to provide a .rounded end portion for the cavity or recess 22.

The upper end of the piston rod 32 carries a piston 3S slidable within cylinder 38 mounted on the flanged upper end of the sleeve as shown in Fig. l. A closure plate seals the upper end of the cylinder 38 and is formed with an opening communicating with a low pressure duid pressure line 42 (Fig. 2), the assemblage providing the equivalent of a spring for yieldingly holding the stripper 34 in lowermost or stripping position. Screws 43 (Fig. 2) extend through the closure plate 40 into the bridge plate I8 to hold the assemblage together.

Since the member 24 is, in effect, pivotally connected to the member 2l, its angular position may be adjusted so as to vary the angle of bevel and to this end the bridge plate I8 is formed with vertically extending openings to receive a plurality of small compression springs 46 which act on the inner edge of member 24, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, and a set screw 45, extending through bridge plate 8, engages the upper face of member 24 so as to hold it in the desired position of adjustment.

Mounted within the cylinder I is a reciproeating plunger 52, the central portion of which is machined to provide a rack 54 meshing with a gear 55 keyed to a transversely extending shaft 56, the opposite ends of which are journaled inA bosses 58 and 60 (Figs. 2 and 7) integral with the webs S and 1. The shaft 56 is also keyed to a rearwardly extending arm 64 (Figs. 1 and '7). the outer end of which is connected bya link 65 to a treadle 56 pivotally mounted at 68 to the rear part of the base One end of a retracting spring is pinned to the interior of the coljects through the block |00 and shaft 90, the inner end of the spindle being pivoted to the lower end of rocker arm 94. The outer end of the spindle |0| extends beyond the block |00 and carries lock nuts |02. Circumposed about the spindle is a compression spring |04, one end of which acts on an adjustable bushing |05 and the opposite end acts against the lower end of rocker arm 94 so as yieldingly to oppose clockwise rocking movement of the arm 95 (Fig. 3) when the arm 86 is swung counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) in the manner hereinafter described.

. By adjusting the nuts |02 the angular position umn 2 and its opposite end is secured to a collar `|2 carried by the link 65, the spring 10 being effective normally to hold the plunger. 52 in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted on the upper part of the plunger 52 is a depressor 14, the head or upper end of which is of generally rectangular shape so as to `'sole in position, and the rear wall of the depressor is formed with a notch 11' (Figs. 3 and 4). the utility of which is hereinafter pointed out. l

VA shaft 16 (Figs. 1 and 3), between the forward ends of the webs 4 and 5, is carried by a rearwardly extending arm 18 formed adjacent to its free end with a depending portion 80 and Vthe free end of this arm is bifurcated to provide spaced dogs 8| (Figs. l and 3 5) engageable with the lower anged end of the depressor 'I4 so that elevation of the plunger 52 rocks the arm 18 in a counter-clockwise direction. The lower part of the depending portion 80 is formed with an elongate transversely extending sleeve l|32 (Figs. 3 and 4) parallel to the shaft 16, and

mounted within the sleeve 82 is a shaft 84, the opposite ends of which project laterally so as to support a pair of cooperating pressers and asf 'sociated parts designated generally by thejnumeral 85.

Each presser comprises a T-shaped member 8'5 (Figs. 3 and 4) having a forwardly projecting arm 81 and an upstanding arm 88, the outer n end of the arm 81 carryingv a transversely extending shaft 90 and the upper end of the arm 88 supports one end of a shaft 82, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 7. Inwardly of each T-shaped member 8E is a rocker arm 84 mounted on shaft 92 in approximate parallel relation to the adjacent arm 88 and the upper end of the rocker arm 94 carries a self-aligning arm 95 extending rearwardly on each side of the depressor 14 (Figs. 3-6). Guide disks 93 (Fig. 7) are provided to fix the position of the rocker arms 94 relative to the matrix 2|. The end of each arm 95 is forked to receive `a roller 96 r0- tatable on a stub shaft S8. The outer or front face of rocker arm 84 is provided with a bumper pad 99 engageable with a stop hereinafter described.

Carried by shaft 90 and in alignment with the associated rocker arm 94 is a block |00 (Fig. 3)

A and the outer end portion of a'spindle |0| proi Ashaft 92 extends, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that the links ||0 travel forwardly a predetermined distance before the inner end of their slotted portions engage the shaft 92 to swing the rocker arms counterLclockwise against the stops |08, as will be noted by comparing Figs. 3 and 4.

Mounted on top of the housing I5 is a horizon'- tal work rest ||5, the central inner partvof which 'is recessed so as to accommodate the matrix 20 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). The ffront and sideof the work rest carry adjustable 'gauges designated by the numerals and ||8 (Fig. 2) which are designed properly to position right and left'soles of a given length. .inasmuch as these gauges are of conventional design and as .their construction and mode of operation is apparent from the drawings, a further description is unnecessary. Y

It will be noted that with the construction and arrangement of parts thus far described, a sole S may be positioned on the work rest with its heel area H between the matrix 4and the depressor as ,shown by thebroken lines of Fig. 2; and

when the treadle 66 is depressed, the plunger 52 lelevates the depressor I4 so as to force the central heel area into the cavity 22 of the matrix, thus leaving the margin ofthe heel area extending outwardly. at an angle to the marginal portion of the matrix, and simultaneously .the arm 'I8 is rocked-counter-clockwise by the engagement of the base of the depressor 14 with .the dogs 8|, as shownY in Fig-3; and when the rocker arm 94 is swung forwardly, as hereinafter explained, the arms with rollers 9E swing -forwardly'and upwardly against the opposite lateral areas at and adjacent to the breast line of the heel seat to hold these parts against the inclined extensions 28 and 28, asiillustxated in Figs. 5 and 6.

'I'he inner walls of webs 6 and 'I adjacent to their upper edges are formed with guides |8 (Fig. 9) which slidably support a knife carrier |20 having forwardly extending arms |2| and |22, each end of which carries a stop |24. Secured to the underside of the carrier |20 between its arms is an interlock |28, the free end of which is engageable with the notch portion 11, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The carrier |20 is connectedto atransverselyextendins yoke member by a stud |31, as shown Vin Figs. 1 and-7. Y Y

A U-shaped knife (Fig. 9) consisting of three sections, i. e.. a. central section |32 and a pair of outer sections |33 and |34, is adjustably mounted .on the carrier |20 by the several pairs of set screws |35 extending through the slots vin clamping plates |36 (Fig. 2) and the tail ends of the knives. The parts cooperate with set screws |371 1(carried by a plate |31* which is secured to the end wall of the carrier |20), guide plates |38 and the stops |24 to hold the knife sections |32|3-4 rigidly together, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9. lThe .distance between the cutting edge of section |32 and those of sections |33 and |34 is g such that the latter completes the trimming operation along the sides and breast line of the heel seat before the section |32 completes the trimming of the 'rear part of the heel. Surrounding the depressor is a chute |39 (Fig. 1) for conducting thev trimmings to the exteriorof the machine.

The movement of the knives and rocker arm S4 from retracted position (Figs. 1 and 3)' to advanced position (Figs. 4 and 6) may be effected in any suitable manner, here shown as a mechanism comprising a fluid pressure cylinder |40, one end of which is secured to the bracket 9. Within the cylinder |40 is a piston having a piston rod |42, the end of which is pivotally con- 'i nected with the yoke |30 by a clevis |43 through which the stud 3| extends (Figs. 1 and '7). The opposite ends of the yoke |30 areconnected with the inner ends of links l I0 by clevises |44 (Fig. '7)

and since the knife carrier is connected to yoke |30 by the stud |3| both the links and knife advance simultaneously when fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder 40.

' The control of the fluid pressure is eiected by a three-way valve |46 (Figs. 1 and 2) connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure such as compressed air. The valve |46 is provided with an operating lever |41 (Figs. 1 and 2) which in one position admits air to one end of the cylinder |40 and at the same time vents the opposite end of the cylinder; and in the second position the valve |46 admits pressure to said opposite en'd while venting the other end of the cylinder.

The operating lever |41 is pivotally connected to an extension |48 of the treadle 65 by a link |50, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that the treadle 66 when depressed .is rst eiective to elevate the depressor and then operate the valve lever |41 to admit air to the cylinder |40. When the treadle is released the springl'l retracts so that the operating lever |41 is moved to the second or normal position,

wherein compressed air is admitted to the opposite end of the cylinder to retract the parts.

A summary of the operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming that the depressor, knife, etc., vare in retracted position (Fig. 1) and that the gauges ||1 and ||8 have been properly adjusted for the soles S to be operated on, a sole is then posii tioned on the work rest with its heel area between the matrix 20 and depressor 14 as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 2. Initial depression of the treadle 66 first elevates the depressor 14 so as to press or deform the central .area of the heel into the matrix, leaving the peripheral portions to be trimmed projecting outwardly as shown in Fig. 3; simultaneously the 181s elevated so that the rolls 95 engage lil vthe undersurface of the sole forwardly of the breast line of the heel and hold the projecting portions against the flat marginal portions 2| of the matrix, as shown in Fig. 5. Continued downward movement of the treadle operates the three-way valve |46 to admit air to the cylinder |40 thus advancing the knife carrier |20, interlock |20 and the links I0. As the parts advance Athe interlock |28 approaches the notch Il (Fig. 3) and the links ||0 contact the shaft 92 to swing 4the rolls 96 forwardly and upwardly; and simultaneously the knife sections |33 and |34 contact the projecting edges at the side of the heel area to start the trimming operation. As the rolls 96 travel forwardly and upwardly they press the 'untrimmed lateral margins against the inclined extensions 2S and 28 (see Figs. 5 and 6) thus distorting the heel area at and adjacent to the breast line so that the knife sections |33 and |34 :in advancing form a bevel cut, as shown more -plearly in Fig. 4, after which the central knife :section |32 comes into operation to trim the rear heel area, and simultaneously the interlock engages the notched part of the depressor-14, as -shown in Fig. 4. The trimmed marginal portions of the heel area drop down into the chute |39 which conducts them away.

When the treadle 66 is released, the lever |41 operates to exhaust the cylinder and admit compressed air to its opposite end, whereupon the knife carrier, interlock, rocker arms 94 and associated parts are moved back to retracted posi- -tion and the piston 38 operates the stripper plate 34 to push the heel seat out of the cavity 22 of the matrix. The sole is then manually removed and the operation is repeated. i

' The'trimmed sole, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, is'thus' formed with a heel seat H having beveled "mar'gin's |55 merging with the beveled shoulder portions |56 which extend inwardly beyond the breast line |58.

`of illustration and that various changes and modiiications may be made without departing .from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A heel sea-t forming machine comprising matrix and depressor members relatively movable toward and away from each other and be- -ftween which the heel portion of a sole is received, the matrix member having a central vcavitysurrounded by a generally U-shaped mariginal portion corresponding to the periphery of the heel seat area, the open ends of said U-shaped marginal portion having extensions outwardly inclined from a line corresponding to the breast line of the heel seat, means for relatively moving `said matrix and depressor members toward each other so that the central heel area of a sole is pressed into said cavity with its margin project- 1ing at an angle to said U-shaped marginal portion, a pair of spaced presser members pivotally -mounted to swing from a retracted position to an advanced position contiguous to the inclined extensions so as to bend and hold opposite lateral portions of the heel area inwardly of its breast line against said extensions, a U-shaped knife movable in a path contiguous to said U-shaped marginal portion, and means operable when said depressor is moved against said matrix for advancing.said.. knife. and swinging said-presser nembers toward said extensions 'soas to trim said projecting margin of the heel area and said opposite lateral portions thereby to form a heel seat having beveled margins merging with beveled shoulder portions extending inwardly beyond the "breast line of said heel portion.

2. A heel seat forming machine comprising a xed matrix, a depressor movable toward and away from said matrix and between which the heel'portion of a sole is received, the matrix having a central cavity surrounded by a generally AU-shaped marginal portion corresponding to the periphery of the heel seat area, the open ends 'of said U-shaped marginal portion having extensions outwardly inclined from a line corresponding to the breast line of the heel seat, a pair of spaced presser members pivotally mounted to swing from a retracted position to an advanced position contiguous to the inclined extensions fso as to bend 'and hold opposite lateral portions of the heel area inwardly of its breast line against 'said extensions, a U-shaped knife movable in a path contiguous to said U-shaped marginal portion, and actuating means for moving said de- :pressor toward said matrix so as to press the centrai heel area of a sole into said cavity with its margin projecting outwardly at an angle and then advancing said knife along said path and swinging said presser members toward said extensions, thereby to trim said projecting margin of the heel area and said opposite lateral portions and form a heel seat having beveled margins -merging with beveled shoulder portions extend- Ving inwardly beyond thebreast line of said heel portion.

3. A heel seat forming machine comprising a frame, a matrix carried by said frame, said matrix having a central cavity surrounded by a generally U-shaped marginal portion corresponding to the periphery of the heel seat area, the open ends of 'said U-shaped marginal portion having extensions outwardly inclined from a line corresponding to the breast line of the heel seat, a work rest for Supporting a sole so that its heel 'area is juxtaposed to said matrix, a depressor mounted on said frame and movable from a retracted position to an advanced position wherein it presses the central heel area of said vsole into said cavity with the margin of said heel area projecting outwardly at an angle to said U-shaped 1 ,marginal portion, guideways on the frame on each =side of said matrix adjacent to said U-shaped marginal portion, presser means mounted on said frame and movable from a retracted position first -to an intermediate position wherein it contacts the outwardly projecting margin of said heel area 'and then to an advanced position wherein it bends and holds the opposite lateral portions of the heel seat area inwardly of its breast line (against said extensions, a knife mounted on said,

guideways and movable from a retracted position .to an advanced position to trim said projecting `margin of the heel area and said opposite lateral portions, and means for advancing said depressor and simultaneously moving said presser means to intermediate position and thereafter Aadvancing said knife and moving said presser means to advanced position thereby to form a Eheel seat having beveled margins merging with :beveled shoulder portions extending inwardly beyond the breast line of said heel area.

4. -A heel seat forming machine comprising a frame, a matrix carried by said frame, said .matrix having a. central cavity surrounded by a 'generally U-shaped marginalnportion corresponding to the periphery of the heel seat area,

the open ends of said U-shaped marginalportion having extensions outwardly inclined from a line corresponding to the breast line of the heel seat, a work rest for supporting a sole so that its heel area is juxtaposed to said matrix, a depressor mounted on said frame and movable from a retracted position to an advanced position wherein it presses the central heel area of said sole into said cavity with the margin of said heel area projecting outwardly at an angle to said U-shaped marginal portion, guideways on the frame on each side of Said matrix adjacent to said U-shaped marginal portion, presser means mounted on said frame and movable from a retracted position first to an intermediate position wherein it contacts the outwardly projecting margin of said heel area and then to an advanced position wherein it bends and holds the opposite lateral portions of the heel seat area inwardly of its breast line against said extensions, a knife mounted on said guideways' and movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to trim said projecting margin of the heel -area and said opposite lateral portions,'an operating lever movable from inactive to active position, and means interconnecting said operating lever, depressor, knife and presser means and effective when said lever is moved to active position first to advance said depressor and move said presser means to intermediate position, then advance said knife and move said presser means to advanced positions in response to the approach of said knife thereby to form a heel seat having beveled margins merging with beveled shoulder portions extending inwardly'beyond the breast line of said heel area.

5.- A heel seat forming machine comprising a frame, a matrix carried by said frame, said matrix having a central cavity surrounded by .a generally U-shaped marginal portion corresponding to the periphery of the heel seat area, the open ends of said U-shaped marginal portion having extensions outwardly inclined from-a line corresponding to the breast line of the heel area which is juxtaposed to said matrix, a depressor slidably mounted on said frame and movable from a retracted position to an advanced position wherein it presses the central heel area of said sole into said cavity with the margin of said heel area projecting outwardly at an angle to said U-shaped marginal portion, guideways on the frame on each side of said matrix adjacent to said U-shaped marginal portion, a pair of spaced presser arms pivotally mounted to swing from a retracted position iirst to an intermediate position wherein their free ends contact the outwardly projecting margin of the heel area and then to advanced position wherein their free ends are contiguous to said extensions so as to bend and hold opposite lateral portions of the heel area inwardly of its breast line against said extensions, a U-shaped knife mounted on said guideways and movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to trim said projecting margin of said heel area and said opposite lateral portions, a treadle pivotally mounted so as to swing from an inactive to an active position, and interconnections between said treadle, depressor, knife and presser arms operative in response to movement of said treadle to active position first to advance said depressor and simultaneously swing said' presser arms to intermediate position,. then .advance said knife and l10 Number Name Date 2,204,676 Hazleton June 18, 1940 2,323,407 lVIiller et al. July 6, 1943 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 9 nally move said presser arms to advanced position in response to the approach oi said knife, thereby to form a. heel seat having beveled margins merging with beveled shoulder portions extending inwardly beyond the breast line of said heel area.

Number Country Date 257,761 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1925 291,549 Great Britain June 7, 1928 References Cited in the 111e o! this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 1,980,371 Bessom Nov. 13, 1934 

